Skin Gourmet - 100% Organic All Natural Skin Care Products made from the finest ingredients in Ghana, West Africa

Cold Pressed Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is loaded with good fats that provide us with energy, able to fight microbes in the body and excellent for cooking. It even smells amazing! But did you know that coconut oil for skin is also a thing? That’s right, you can reap coconut oil’s benefits from the outside-in.

Not only is using coconut oil on your skin an all-natural method to eliminate many of the toxic ingredients that are found on drugstore shelves, but it’s also a cost-effective way to care for your body. Coconut oil also is able to penetrate your skin on a deeper level than your average product because of its low molecular weight and the way it bonds with proteins.

Coconut oil has a multitude of health benefits, which include but are not limited to skin care, hair care, improving digestion and immunity against a host of infections and diseases.

Coconut oil is excellent massage oil that acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skin, including dry skin. Unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin from the application of coconut oil. Therefore, it is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays the appearance of wrinkles and sagging of skin, which normally accompany aging.

It helps in preventing degenerative diseases premature aging due to its well-known antioxidant properties. It also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. For that exact reason, coconut oil forms the base ingredient of various body care products like soaps, lotions, and creams that are used for skin care.

Hair Care

Coconut oil helps in healthy growth of hair and gives your hair a shiny quality. It is also highly effective in reducing protein loss, which can lead to various unattractive or unhealthy qualities in your hair. It is used as hair care oil and is used in manufacturing various conditioners and dandruff relief creams. It is normally applied topically for hair care.

It is an excellent conditioner and helps the re-growth process of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing and healing damaged hair. Research studies indicate that coconut oil provides better protection to hair from damage caused by hygral fatigue.

By regularly massaging your head with coconut oil, you can ensure that your scalp is free of dandruff, even if your scalp is chronically dry. It also helps in keeping your hair and scalp free from lice and lice eggs.

Heart Disease

There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for heart health. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. In reality, it is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in actively preventing various heart problems like high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Coconut oil does not lead to increase in LDL levels, and it reduces the incidence of injury and damage to arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis. Study suggests that intake of coconut oil may help to maintain healthy lipid profiles in pre-menopausal women.

Weight loss

Coconut oil is very useful for weight loss. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. Research suggests that coconut oil helps to reduce abdominal obesity in women. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and endocrine system. Further, it increases the body’s metabolic rate by removing stress on the pancreas, thereby burning more energy and helping obese and overweight people lose the weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who use coconut oil every day as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight.

Immunity

It strengthens the immune system because it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which research has supported as an effective way to deal with viruses and bacteria that cause diseases like herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. Coconut oil helps in fighting harmful bacteria like listeria monocytogenes and helicobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.

Digestion: Internal functions of coconut oil occur primarily due to it being used as cooking oil. It helps to improve the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion-related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have antimicrobial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, and parasites that can cause indigestion. It also helps in the absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Candida: Candida, also known as Systemic Candidiasis, is a tragic disease caused from excessive and uncontrolled growth of yeast called Candida Albicans in the stomach. Coconut provides relief from the inflammation caused by candida, both externally and internally. Its high moisture retaining capacity keeps the skin from cracking or peeling off. Capric acid, Caprylic acid, caproic acid, myristic acid and lauric acid found in coconut oil help in eliminating Candida albicans.

Healing and Infections: When applied to infected areas, coconut oil forms a chemical layer that protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and viruses. Coconut oil is highly effective on bruises because it speeds up the healing process of damaged tissues.

According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut oil kills the viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, and other serious health risks. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhoea. Finally, coconut oil is also effective in the elimination of fungi and yeast that cause ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush, and diaper rash.

Dental care: Calcium is an important component of our teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in developing strong teeth. It also stops tooth decay. Recent research suggests that coconut oil is beneficial in reducing plaque formation and plaque induced gingivitis.

Coconut Oil Pulling Benefits & How-to Guide

Coconut oil pulling is one of the best ways to remove bacteria and promote healthy teeth and gums! Used primarily inAyurvedic medicine, oil pulling is a fantastic oral detoxification procedure that is simply done by swishing a tablespoon of oil (typically coconut oil, olive or sesame oil) in your mouth for 10-20 minutes.

Oil pulling works by cleaning (detoxifying) the oral cavity in a similar way that soap cleans dirty dishes. It literally sucks the dirt (toxins) out of your mouth and creates a clean, antiseptic oral environment that contributes to the proper flow of dental liquid that is needed to prevent cavities and disease.

Unlike most other oils, coconut oil has a high melting point – about 24 to 25 degrees Celsius or 76-78 Fahrenheit. Therefore it is solid at room temperature and melts only when the temperature rises considerably.

If you are using coconut oil for topical purposes, especially hair care, just melt the oil (if it is solid) by keeping the bottle in the sun or soaking it in warm water. You can also take some oil out and put it in a small bowl and heat the bowl over a flame (don’t use a microwave). Then, take the oil on your palm and apply it to your hair. If you want to use it for internal consumption, simply replace butter or vegetable oils with coconut oil in your recipes.

Wear It Recipes!

Damaged hair? We've all been there. Blow dryers, products, and weather take a toll on our locks, so we've decided to share a coconut oil and honey hair mask, which is perfect for repairing and moisturizing damaged hair.

WILD COCONUT HAIR MASK

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon of Skin Gourmet's Coconut Oil

1 Tablespoon of Wild Northern Honey

1 Sauce Pan

1 Mixing Bowl

1 Spoon

1. Towel

1 Shower Cap (optional)

Directions:

Step 1: Mix Ingredients Together

Mix the ingredients together and as an extra step to help your hair follicles open up, slightly heat the mixture up on a stove top in a small sauce pan. Long or extra damaged hair? Just add a bit more of these ingredients.

Step 2: Apply to Hair

The mask can be applied to dry or wet hair, although we've found that it's easier applied to wet hair. Have a towel around your neck to protect your clothes and section your hair off. Apply generously from top to bottom, focusing on the ends where most damage occurs.

Step 3: Relax for 30-40 Minutes While Mask Soaks In

Wrap your hair in a bun and let the mask soak in for 30-40 minutes. While you wait for the mask to do its magic, flip through a magazine, read a book, or paint your nails to pamper yourself some more.

Step 4: Rinse and Voila!

COCONUT OIL AS A MAKE UP REMOVER

If you have sensitive skin or you just want an all natural makeup remover, you're going to love this beauty trick.

While some people already use (and swear by) coconut oil as a moisturizer or hair mask, they may not know it’s also a wonderful makeup remover. Just a teaspoon (or less) can easily take off your eye makeup, no matter the staying power.

And while a glass jar of coconut oil isn’t a problem when you’re at home, who has the space (or arm strength) to carry it on the go? Try these DIY coconut oil makeup remover wipes using the raw stuff, like Skin Gourmet's Cold Pressed Coconut Oil.

Here's how to make them:

Simply melt coconut oil in a microwave-safe container (use 1 teaspoon of coconut oil per round cotton pad). Then, lay the cotton pads in an even layer and let them soak up the oil overnight. Store them in the same container or in a plastic baggie and throw them in your carry-on or gym bag for easy makeup removal on-the-go.

Coconut and turmeric coupled together make a good acne-fighting face mask, due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Banana hydrates and moisturizes skin.

1. To melt coconut oil, use a hair dryer or simply place the coconut oil container in a bowl of hot water (if it has solidified).

2. Select ripe or overripe bananas so that its easier to mash into a lump free paste.

3. Turmeric will not stain your face yellow since we're using just a pinch. It will stain your fingernails, though. To remove the yellow stains, use a nailbrush and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Scrub gently for a minute and enjoy your exfoliated nails!

Skin Gourmet's Cold Pressed Coconut Oil contains antioxidants which stave off free radical damage. Our coconut oil also offers sun protection and has an SPF of about 5. Avocado will hydrate and moisturize skin, while nutmeg will gently exfoliate acne-prone skin and prevent further breakouts.

Avocado - Protects against free radicals, slowing down the aging process of the skin. Nourishes and hydrates skin cells.

Step 4: When the time is up, rinse off the mask with cool water or a warm washcloth. Pat dry with a clean towel.

Did you know that you can make your own coconut oil toothpaste with just a few simple ingredients that you have in your kitchen?

Not only is coconut oil toothpaste effective, with it you can avoid all of the chemicals and toxic ingredients in commercial toothpaste and save money!

How Coconut Oil Toothpaste Works

Coconut oil is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti fungal! Studies have shown that coconut oil destroys the bacteria that can cause tooth decay. The other primary ingredient in this toothpaste is baking soda. Baking soda is a very mild abrasive which aids in cleaning and whitening teeth, and restoring pH balance.

HOMEMADE COCONUT TOOTHPASTE

Ingredients:

About 1/2 Cup of Skin Gourmet's Cold Pressed Coconut Oil

2-3 Tablespoons of Baking Soda

2 Teaspoons of Skin Gourmet's Wild Northern Honey

15-20 drops of Peppermint or Cinnamon Essential Oil

Directions:

Step 1: Melt or slightly soften coconut oil.

Step 2; Mix in other ingredients and stir well. If using semi-hard coconut oil, use a fork, if not, use a spoon. If you are using completely melted coconut oil, you will need to stir several times while the mixture cools to keep the baking soda incorporated.

Step 3: Put mixture into small glass jar (I make different ones for each family member)

Step 4: Let cool completely.

To Use: dip toothbrush in and scrape small amount onto bristles. Could also use a small spoon to put on toothbrush.

The mouth is one of the most susceptible areas of the body when it comes to harmful outside “invaders” taking over, like bacteria and toxins.

Skin Gourmet's Detoxifying Clay binds to unhealthy substances in the mouth, such as around the teeth and on the tongue and gums, and helps to remove them before you swallow them and become sick. Because of Skin Gourmet's Clay antibacterial properties, it has been used in natural toothpastes and even mixed with water and used as a daily rinse.